Maguindanao gov't. serve drought-stricken communities

BULUAN, Maguindanao --- Close to a thousand villagers in drought-stricken areas in Maguindanao province benefited from a series of humanitarian missions meant to cushion the adverse effects of rice and corn production shortages due to the dry spell.Lynette Estandarte, budget officer of the Maguindanao provincial government and concurrent in-charge of the People’s Medical Team, said the latest of their relief missions were held Wednesday in Rajah Buayan town in the second district of the province.Rajah Buayan was hit by flashfloods spawned by heavy rains last year and devastated anew by the drought which started in late December 2015.The provincial emergency response contingent, operating under the supervision of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, had served 385 sick Rajah Buayan residents.The relief mission was assisted by medics from the Army’s 40thInfantry Battalion led by its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Joel Mamon. We are thankful to the soldiers who helped us deliver medical and dental services to drought-affected areas in Rajah Buayan,” Estandarte said.The Rajah Buayan relief operation was preceded by Monday’s similar activity of the provincial government in Barangay Tomicor in Ampatuan town, also in the second district of Maguindanao.Ampatuan barangay officials said more than 400 sick villagers availed of the provincial government’s medical and dental services in the municipality.Estandarte’s group had earlier served more than 2,000 villagers in hinterland peasant enclaves in South Upi town, where folks have complained of heavy losses in their crops due to the drought.